We went to the best bar in the world to find out what the drink of the summer will be — here's the verdict

Every year, a new breed of cocktail emerges as the drink du jour.
But what is the ultimate summer cocktail? The one you can drink
year in and year out, without worrying about frilly,
hard-to-follow trends?

That's what we wanted to find out, so we donned our deerstalker hats
and made our way downtown.

We call it: "Business Insider and the case of the missing drink
of the summer."

We decided to begin our search at the Dead Rabbit, a favorite hangout of Wall Streeters and delicious cocktails. If we could find the drink of the summer anywhere, it would probably be there.

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The Dead Rabbit was recently awarded the prestigious "Best Bar in the World" designation by Drinks International magazine. We couldn't think of a better place to search for the drink of the summer.

Our man behind the bar, Long Thai, was more than happy to help us with our search. His advice and expertise would prove invaluable. The drink of the summer would soon reveal itself.

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Thai picked out six drinks that he thought were the most deserving of the title — the six most suspicious characters on a menu full of them.

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SUSPECT #1: Bachelor Pad

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Our first suspect was the Bachelor Pad. It's a relaxed drink -
maybe too relaxed? This made us suspicious, and we made note of
it.

The drink is a new take on a White Lady cocktail.

With a base of Scottish gin and lemon juice, the drink also
includes a poppy seed-infused syrup, pink grapefruit liqueur, and
a dash of pale cream sherry.

The Bachelor Pad is shaken, not stirred.

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There's a lot going on, but the drink isn't overpowering.

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It's not overly sweet, nor is it overly tart, despite the
citrus-y ingredients. It's exceptionally balanced in all flavors,
melding and perfectly complicating each other. It has a foamy
finish that comes courtesy of the shaken egg white, and it
elevates the experience.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and yet we couldn't quite
shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right with this
one. It's too perfect.

We're keeping an eye on it.

SUSPECT #2: Iron Man

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We moved on to the next: the Iron Man.

It's a daisy-style cocktail with a base of Irish whiskey and
Guyanese rum. Yellow chartreuse and pale cream sherry complicate
the flavors, as does an apple and tarragon-flavored syrup.

It's finished with a shot of dry cider and a dash of
chamomile tincture, with a nutmeg garnish.

Thai strained the drink into a mustache cup before serving it to us. We were entertained.

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Like the superhero himself, Iron Man is bold.

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Its flavors are pronounced and distinguished. Instead of melting
together, each is identifiable.

With its heavy liquors, it is heartier than you might be looking
for in a summer drink. Though it is refreshing and fruity, its
spicy apple flavors reminded us more of fall than summer.

The Iron Man seemed impregnable, but it slowly began to reveal
itself after sustained interrogation (i.e. sipping).

SUSPECT #3: Show-Off

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With a name like Show-Off, we weren't sure what to expect. What
exactly was it going to do to try and impress us? A whole lot, it
turns out.

The drink is a flashy Champagne cocktail with brandy, a green
apple liqueur, kiwi and lemon juices, and flavors like vanilla
and macadamia. Champagne is added to the flute before pouring.

One thing is certain: The Show-Off is a splashy drink.

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There's no subtlety here. As the name implies, the green apple,
the vanilla, the kiwi, the lemon, and the champagne flavors all
announce themselves in the strongest terms.

And yet, the drink doesn't collapse under the weight of all those
flavors. It's actually fun, with a rooftop drinking vibe. It's
both sweet and tart, and it's refreshing as hell. We could see
ourselves sipping it on a rooftop this summer.

It seems the Show-Off is exactly what it appears to be. It's a
cocktail that is serious about tasting good, and it just wants to
have a good time.

SUSPECT #4: Fun Lovin' Criminal

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With a name like Fun Lovin' Criminal, we were sure we'd hit the
jackpot.

A relatively simple ingredient list - tequila, vermouth, apple
brandy, grapefruit, and hops - belies the work it takes to put it
all together.

Fun Lovin' Criminal is an alcohol-forward kicker.

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It doesn't have the fancy-long list of ingredients that the other
cocktails have, but the criminal stands on its own. It doesn't
hide its tequila, vermouth, and brandy, with just enough from the
grapefruit and hops to bring a mellow taste.

But watch out, because the alcohol catches up with you - you'll
feel it in the backbite. The drink is feistier than you might
first assume, but it ends up charming you in the end.

We couldn't linger long with the Fun Lovin' Criminal, though it
surely made an impression on us.

SUSPECT #5: Hammer and Tong

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The Hammer and Tong is a bit deceptive.

While it looks like a relatively straightforward drink - gin,
rum, mezcal, vermouth, and some flavorings (cacao, vanilla,
hibiscus, and lavender absinthe) - the drink is actually complex.

The herbal infusion in the Argentinian gin mixes with the
additional flavors in unexpected ways, making something
completely new.

A minty herbal concoction, the Hammer and Tong is clean and sharp.

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With its Argentinian gin, cacao, and vanilla, the Hammer and Tong
is a bit like a herbal grasshopper shot. It was nothing like we'd
ever tasted before.

The herbal minty flavors are pronounced in the drink, giving the
drink a taste similar to one of your favorite minty summer
drinks. It's refreshing and cool.

Mint is a quintessential summer flavor, so it was hard not to
just arrest this drink on the spot. Intuition told us there was
more to see, however, so we moved on.

SUSPECT #6: Coup d'Etat

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Now this was a suspicious character if we'd ever seen one.

A take on an Old-Fashioned, but ratcheted up several notches with
cognac and various liqueurs, cinnamon syrup, and garnished with
orange oils, the Coup d'Etat was a drink best saved for a rainy
day.

The drink calls for a block of ice, chiseled right in front of us by the the bartender.

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One taste of the Coup d'Etat begets one thought: that's a lot of alcohol.

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Every ingredient is a liquor, apart from the cinnamon syrup, and
you can feel it. It was at once familiar and entirely new.

And while that's true, it's definitely not a bad thing. The
cognac, the cachaça, the vermouth, the chartreuse, and the amaro
tip-toe across your tongue in unison, forming something that goes
down surprisingly smooth and easy.

A hint of honey surprises on the initial sip, while the cinnamon
aftertaste lingers.

So which one of these phenomenal drinks are we going to award the coveted distinction of being Business Insider's drink of the summer?

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It wasn't easy, but the winner was clear. Among the six drinks we
tried, one drink in particular's story just didn't add up.

WINNER: Bachelor Pad

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For its supreme ability to delight, its complex yet melded
flavors, and the fun of drinking a foamy drink with some egg
whites in it, the Bachelor Pad is crowned our Drink of the
Summer.

For a drink similar to the Bachelor Pad, ask any bar for a White
Lady. Be warned that we cannot guarantee it'll be as delicious as
the Dead Rabbit's version.